The Mad Potter

By Jan Greenberg, Sandra Jordan

A hidden trove reveals a potter's genius long after his death.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 480 ratings

56 pages· 5,837 words· Est. 49 min read

$17.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1967, a hidden collection of pottery unveils the genius of George Ohr, a misunderstood artist from Biloxi. Born amidst civil unrest, George discovers his passion at a pottery wheel, crafting unique ceramics that bewilder his contemporaries. Despite rejection, he secretly preserves his creations, leaving a legacy that challenges the art world. What secrets lie in the clay of this eccentric potter?

From the publisher

When George Ohr’s trove of pottery was discovered in 1967, years after his death, his true genius was discovered with it. The world could finally see how unique this artist really was!Born in 1856 in Biloxi, Mississippi, George grew up to the sounds of the civil war and political unrest. When he was 22, his boyhood friend introduced him to the pottery wheel. The lost young man suddenly found his calling.”When I found the potter’s wheel I felt it all over like a duck in water.” He started creating strangely crafted pots and vases, expressing his creativity and personality through the ceramic sculptures. Eventually he had thousands at his fingertips. He took them to fairs and art shows, but nobody was buying these odd figures from this bizarre man. Eventually he retired, but not without hiding hundreds of his ceramics.Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, authors of the award winning Ballet for Martha, approach this colorful biography with a gentle and curious hand.